WILTON – About 150 residents passed most articles at the town meeting Monday night, adopting a municipal budget of $878,206.
An article to require live-aboard boats be secured overnight “to a commercial facility capable of dealing with waste and fueling,” was debated. Such boats are defined as having a kitchen, toilet and sleeping quarters.
Dan Buckley, an aquatic biologist and professor at University of Maine at Farmington, spoke in favor of the article’s passage. He said the town has taken great pains to protect Wilson Lake. Though it is illegal for the town to prohibit the use of the watercraft on the lake, permitting them to stay overnight increases the potential for the release of sewage and gray water.
It’s a much bigger issue than a kid in Kineowatha Park who can’t make it to shore in time, he told them.
Another resident spoke against the proposal saying, though he is a proponent of water quality, he didn’t think the ordinance would help. If a boat owner removed a toilet from their boat, it wouldn’t fall under the definition, he said.
Also, a pumping facility as described in the ordinance, does not exist – passage of the proposal would promote the development of such a facility, he said. There are no provisions for enforcement either, he argued.
Selectman-elect Paul Gooch urged voters to support the measure saying the lake is the community’s greatest asset.
The proposal passed with only a few dissenters.
An article to raise $180,000 for the town’s revaluation was an issue.
Mike Sherrod, a member of the Planning Board, recommended voters not approve the measure. Using the town’s savings for a revaluation “won’t really benefit us,” he said. The town will not be able to raise any more money without a town meeting, he added.
Dennis Landry, who owns property on the lake, said a revaluation “will make it fair.”
“It will equalize (taxes) for people who own real estate. It’s about time we do it,” he said.
The last time the town had a revaluation was in 1985 and the state could force the town to do one, Selectman Rodney Hall explained.
“There are houses on the lake that are taxed at $300,000 and have sold at more than $600,000,” he said. Though it will probably increase most property values, he expects a revaluation to reduce the mill rate, which is currently at about $20 per $1,000 making Wilton a more attractive place to businesses.
“We’re not on the same playing field as other towns,” he said.
The proposal passed.
The meeting, held in the steamy gymnasium of Academy Hill School, was over in two hours.
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